Air-bag-inserting machine



Jan. v3, 1928.

c. w. HowLETT Am BAG INSERTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 6. 1926 NV 0 Cnkfuce W HowLErr ATTORNE Jan. 3, 1928. 1,654,880

c. w. HowLE'rT AIR BAG INSERTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6. 1926 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 v IN VEN TOR.

mes/vc: w. How/.rrr

BY moe@ A TTORNE Y.

Patented Jana 3, v1928.

UNITED STATES- PATENT olfrljcu-z, i

CLARENCE HOWLETT, `OF KOKOMO,V INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO 'EI-IE .AKRON STANDARD MOLD COMPANY, 0F AKRON, OI-IIO, Av CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AIR-BAG-INSERTING MACHINE.

l Application ledNovember 6, 1926. Serialr'No. 146,'6Q8.

tion. is attended with much labor and loss of'time in the factory. Airbags Ywhich are ditiicult to lcollapse into the required position so as to be insertable within the tire, are often subjected to very severe handling and treatment' which; will cause prematurev failure of the air bag. Y v

Thel object of the present invention 1s to -constru'ct a machine whichvwill collapse air, bagsof allV sizes and types quickly and easilyA and permit their'insertion within the pneumatic tire. The release of the niechani'sm causes the bags to reassume theirv circular condition within the tire. The machine can, also be usedv to assist in the seating of the bag within the tire casing by operation of certain elements ofthe machine at the time the air bag expands into the tire casing. The machine is also provided with'means to introduce air under pressure into the air bagwhile the tire and bag are in the machine, and thus may be used for shaping socalled flat built or drum built tires. rlfhe machine is arranged in a vertical plane with the operative elements spacedy from the framework so. that it is easy ofaccess. The ease of operation, economy of labor and saving of air bags are the principal advantages of the invention. Other advantages and beneficial results will be apparent to those skilled in this art, and while the drawings anddescription are quite specific to ther detailed vconstruction shown and described herein, such changes and modifications .as fall within the scopeI of the invention are intended to be covered in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings: v Figure 1 is; a front elevation ofthe ma.` chine showing the air bag thereon in noncollapsed.l position;v y Figure 2 a vertical section through the center of the machine;

Figure 3 bag collapsed 5I and vbase members 5, to-vwhich it is braced.

is a 'front elevation showing the Figure 4 is-details of an'outer shoe for collapsing the airbag. y

The machineA is constituted of a vertical rectangular framework comprising right and left uprightsl and: 2, respectively, and upper and) lower cross-members and Ll respectively. Themachine is supported in Attached to the membersvof the framework are six guide rails orbars, numbered 6to lllinclusive,` these guide rails being spaced about the framework in'equi-angular relation and being connected to a central supporting plate 12, the vertical 'bars 6 andv Qbeing continuous.

The air bagis supportedv and collapsed byv vmeans of siX shoesspaced at 600 apart around the rcenter of the machinev and arranged 1n groups of threeV alternating aboutA the machine, onev set or group of shoes being -relatively stationary to the other'and being located about the'inner periphery of the bag,

the other set being movable toward and from the center of the; machine and located about the outside of the-bag; The upper-most shoe of the inner set iSv-fixed upon the guide rod- 6 being adjustable however, for the purpose ofyaccommodati'ng` the machine to various sizes'ofjair bags. This shoe comprises a plate orslid'e V14- which is clamped in thev desired position upon. thefguide rail 6 by a plate 15,y and bolts ll To the front of they plateV 14' is secured 'a' depending', ycurved arm 17, to; the end@ ofwhich is attached the arched shoe 1'8; This shoe is provided with a slot 19, through which the valve stem 20 of the air bag 21 ispassed. l 1 The other shoes of the inner set are designated by thevnumerals 25 andQG. kThese shoes are supported upon the ends of curved arms 27 and1128 which are carried upon.. slide blocks 29 andBO, movable on the rails 8 and 10. The movement of these slide blocks is for two purposes.y 'The first reason for movf ing the shoes is'to enable them tobe posi tioned` inwardly so that the bag canbeplaced thereover and so that the shoes can move inwardly slightly as is necessitated 'by theV collapsing of the bag. The shoes are also movable outwardly so that the'ba'g can be forced into position by a seriesof blows delivered upon the inner circumference of the bag bythe movementof the shoes'after the bag' has reassumedy its circular condition.

Each slide 29 and 30 is attached to an individual chain 31, each chain being secured at one-end to bracket 32, these brackets being attached to a rock shaft 33 mounted in the VVlower portion of the framework. Each chain extendsl vertically from the bracket and passes over a sprocket 34 attached to a bracket 65 on the frame at vthe point where'the guide rail8 or l0 is secured to the side frame. the rail 8 or l0, being attached to the slide, and over a` sprocket 38 near the center of the machine. The twol chainsare attache-d at their other ends to a foot treadle 39 which rocks4 upon the shaft 33. `The treadle 39 is at the center of tl e machine, and one of the brackets32 at the side of themachine is provided with a second foot treadle 40. It will be observed that pressure applied to the treadle 39 will move the shoes 25 and 26 toward the center of the machine, and pressure applied to the treadle 40 will move them outwardly of the machine.

The shoes constituting the outer set of three are carried by the guide rails 7, 9 and 11being alternated with the shoes 18, 25

and 26, and being on the outside of the bag.`

rlfhese shoes are indicated by the numerals 45, 46 and 47, being carried upon slides 48, 49 and 50, respectively, movable upon the guide rails if', v9 and 1i'. These slices being similar in construction, a description of one will sui'lice.

Each shoe has a substantially U-shaped member 5l which is pivoted at 52 in the end of an arm 53 extending from ythe slide. An arm 54 is alsoformed upon the slide, pivotally supporting kthe end of a small cylinder 55, the piston of which is connected to the knee of a toggle comprising pivoted links 56 and 57 connected to the arm 53 and the slice. `When the piston is moved outwardly, the shoes, which are in the dotted line position of Figure 4, will engage the outer surface of the bag, and when they are withdrawn to the full line position ofv Figure 4, the shoes will clear the tire and the air bag. The arrangement is preferably such that when the shoe is. at its outer position, theV toggle is moved slightly past center. Rubber bumpers 58 may be placed on the toggles to contact `with the pivot 52 when the shoe is at its outermost point. Air is admitted to and released from the cylinders 55through suitable flexible piping, indicated by the numeral 60 and controlled by avalve 6l at the side of the machine, thereby rocking the shoes upon their pivots, moving them simultaneously into and out of the plane of the bag. p

The slides 48, 49 and 5() are all connected to an endless chain 62 which is looped about three sprockets 64 at thecenter of the machine and three sprockets 65 at the extremi- The chain then passes along shoes 5l.

49 is connected to a block 66 which is in turn connected to the piston 67 of a vertical cylinder 68 mounted on the back ofthe framework. Air to the cylinder is controlled by a valve 70 at the side of the' frame. The parts are so connected that when the slide 49 is moved toward and from the center of the apparatus, the other slides move in unison therewith, and as a result, all of the shoes are moved at the same time toward or from the center of the machine.

An air line 72 leads to the center of theV valve stem of the air bag. A valve l7 5 at the nozzlel controls the air bag.v y

the admission of air to The series of` operations performed by the machine is as follows:

rlhe various shoes being in the position shown in Figure l, tlieair bag is placed over thev shoes 18, 25 and 26, the last/named shoes being withdrawn or advanced by the treadles 89 or 40 as may be necessary. Air is then admitted tothe cylinders 55 by the valve 6l n'ioving the shoes 5l to their outer position.

The valve 'T0 is now operated, moving the block 66 and with it the slides carrying the rlhe inward movement of these shoes distorts the bag to the position shown in Figure 3, the shoes 25 and 26 moving inwardly as may be necessary. rlhe tire casing to be bagged is then placed about the collapsed air bag, and t-he air released. from the cylinders 55 which-causes the shoes to {iy backfto their retracted position, the resilience ofi the bag causing it Vto spring outwardly within the casing. Operation'of the cylinder 6 8 moves all of, the slides outwardly to their former positions, the shoesY clearing the tire. The operator thentramps upon the treadle 40 and the shoes 25 and 26V are moved outwardly, forcing the bagoutwardly to its final position. This operation 'may be repeated-a number of times, causing a tamping action. At the same time air may be admitted to the bag through the nozzle 74 and the valve stem, causing the bag to round out properly within the tire. The tire with the air bag within it is then lifted olf the machine after the shoes 25and` 26 have been withdrawn slightly.

Therrmachine, as shown and describedopcrates very rapidly and will bag Va tire in ,A lVhile thelmecha very short space of time. amsm has been' very particularly described,

it will be understood that'changes and modifications may be made within the scope thereof as set forth inthe claims. `The fact that the machine is vert-ical assists inthe rapid operation of the machine. While themachine is described for the vpurpose of inserting air bags, it will be understood that other ties of the guide rails 7, 9 and 11. The slide similar bodies may be collapsed thereon. v

newness What is claimed is:V y LA machine for the uses and purposes vset forth, comprising a plurality of arms 2. A machine for the uses and purposes set forth, comprising a support for the inner lperiphery of an air bag, a plurality of shoes `movable toward and away from the center ofthe bag and adapt-ed to engage the outer periphery thereof, and means to move the shoes relatively to the plane of the airbag.

3. A machine for the uses and' purposes set forth, comprising a support for the inner periphery of an air bag, a plurality of guide bars radiating from the center' of the bag, a slide upon eachbar, a pivoted shoe upon the slide, and means for moving the slides toward and from the cent-er of the bag.

4L. A machine for the uses and purposes set forth, comprising a support for the inner periphery of an air bag, a plurality of guide bar's radiating from the center of the bag, a slide upon each bar, a pivoted shoe upon the slide, means for moving `the slides toward and'from the center of the bag, and means for rockingthey shoes upon the slides.

5. A machine -for the uses and purposes set forth, comprising a support for the inner periphery of an air bag, a plurality ofguide bars radiating from the-center of the bag,

a'slide upon eachbar, a pivoted shoe upon the slide, and means for moving the slides towardA and from the centerof the bag comprising a single chain paralleling the various arms and attached tothe slides.

6. A machine for the uses. and purposes set forth, comprising a support for the inner aeriphery of anair bag, a plurality of guide ars radiating'from the center of the bag, a slide upon each bar, a pivoted shoe upon the slide, and an air cylinder upon the slide connected with the shoe and adapted to rock it into and out of the plane of the bag. I

7. A machine for the uses and purposes set forth, comprising a support for the inner periphery of an air bag, a plurality of guide bars radiating from the center of the bag, a slide upon each bar, apivotedshoe upon the slide, a toggle mechanism connected to the shoe, and means to operate the toggle to move the shoe into and out of the plane of the bag.

8. A machine for the uses and purposes set forth, comprising a support for the inner periphery of an air bag, a plurality of guide bars radiating from the center of the bag, a slide upon each bar, a pivoted shoeupon the slide, a toggle mechanism connected to the shoe, and an. air cylinder to operate the toggle to move the shoe into and out of the plane of the bag.

9. A machine set forth, comprising six shoes arranged in groups of three, one group engaging the inner periphery of the bag and the other group thel outer periphery of the bag, and means to move the second group toward and from the center of the bag and relatively to the plane of the bag.

AlO. A machine for the uses and purposes set forth, comprising six shoes arranged in groups of three, one group-engaging the inner periphery of the bag and the other* group the outer periphery of the bag, and means to move the second group toward and from the center of the bag and relatively. to the.

plane of the bag,-the shoes of one group alternating with the shoes of the other group about the bag.

- 1l. In a machine for the insertion of air bags or the like into pneumatic tires, a` plurality of shoes arranged in groups to engage the inner and outer peripheriesof the air bag respectively, means to move the outer group toward and from the. center of the bag, and means -to move the inner group independently of the .outer group. v

l2. IIn a machine for theinsertion of air bags or the like in pneumatic tires, a plurality of shoes spacedrabout the inner periphery of the air bag and forming a support therefor, means engaging thel outer vperiphery of the bag and adapted to distort it between the shoes, and mechanism adaptedy to `move shoe outwardly after the is inserted to .position it within the tire.

13. In a machine for .the uses and purposes set forth, the combination of means for supporting an air bag at a plurality of spacedpoints, collapsing mechanism for distorting the air bag to such condition that it for the uses and purposes may be placed within a tire, andy a nozzle for admitting air to the interior ofthe bag,

together with means for 'camping theinner the tire, tamping shoes engaging the inner periphery of the air bag, and means for reciprocating the shoes.

15. In a machine for the uses and purposes set forth, a vertical framework, a pluralityfof arms radiating from the center of theframeworlr, slides movable over the arms,

shoes upon the slides, half of said shoes ,en-

gaging the inner periphery of an'air bag, the other half of said shoes engaging the outer periphery ofthe air bag, means to move the outer shoes in unison toward and fromV the `center of the machine, and means for withdrawing them'from the plane of the bag. i

16. In a machine for the uses and purposes set forth, a vertical framework, a plurality ofA arms radiating from the center of the framework, slides movable over the arms, shoes upon the slides, half of said shoes engaging the inner periphery of an air bag, the other half of said shoes engaging the outer periphery of the air bag, means to move the outer shoes in unison toward and from the center of the machine, means for withdrawing' them from the plane of the bag, and independent means for moving certain of the inner shoes toward and from the center of the bag.

17. In a machine for the uses and purposes set forth, a vertical framework, a plurality of arms radiating from the center of the framework, slides movable over the arms, shoes upon the slides, half of said shoes engaging the inner periphery of an air bag, the other' half of said shoes engaging the outer periphery of the air bag, means to move the outer shoes in unison towardv and from the center of the machine, means for withdrawing them from the plane of the bag, and means for admitting air under pressure to the interior of the bag.

I8. In a machine for the uses and purposes set forth, a vertical framework, a plurality of arms 'radiating from the center of the framework, slides movable over the arms, shoes upon the slides, half of said shoes engaging the inner periphery of an air bag, the other half of said shoes engaging the outer periphery of the airbag, means to move the outer shoes in unison toward and from the center of the machine, means for withdrawing them from the plane of the bag, independent means for moving certain of the inner shoes toward and from the center of the bag, and means for admitting air under pressure to the interior of the bag.

19. In a machine for the uses and purposes set forth, a kvertical framework, a'plurality of arms radiatingfrom the center of the framework, slides movable over the arms, shoes upon the slides, certain of said shoes engaging the inner periphery ofY the'air bag, the other shoes engaging the louter periphery of the bag, meansto move the slides carrying the shoes in Vunisontoward and away from the center of the machine, the outer shoes being pivoted upon the slides, and mechanism to rock the shoespupon their pivots in unison.

20. In a machine for the uses and purf poses set'forth, a vertical framework, a plurality of arms radiating from the center of the framework, slides movable over the arms, Y

shoes uponv the slides, certain ofV saidshoes engaging'the inner periphery of the air bag, the other shoes engaging the outer periphery of the bag, means to move the slides carrying the shoes in unison toward and away from the center of the machine, the duter shoes being pivoted upon theslides, mechanism to rock the shoes upon their pivots in unison,

and independent means to move slides carrying inner shoes toward and from the center f the bag.

2l. In amachine for thev uses angl pur? soY from the center of the machine, the outer i shoes being pivoted upon the slides, mechanism to rock the shoes upon their pivots in unison, independent means to move slides carrying inner shoes toward and from the center of the bag, and means to admit fluid under pressure to theainterior of the bag.

- CLARENCE wnownsrr 

